Tribeca Film Festival Review- “The Troll Hunter”

It always bothers me that I never get a really good look at a lot of movie creatures. The recent film “Monsters” was more about humans than the alien octopi you hardly saw and in “Cloverfield” they kept the creature from really being seen for more than a second. Hell, there wasn’t even anything to see in “The Blair Witch Project.” While I don’t need to see a monster to make a movie worth while, I do yearn for a movie that can work well on its own, but still give me that creature thrill I am looking for. Well, if you are like me, then your movie is here and it is called, “The Troll Hunter” (Trolljegeren).

Brought to you by the geniuses at Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing (the wonderful people that have also brought you “Rubber” and “Hobo With A Shotgun.”) “The Troll Hunter” is the feature debut film from famous Norwegian commercial director,André Øvredal. The film is about three college students who are following a man believed to be a bear poacher; just wanting an interview. When the students follow the man into the woods late at night though, they realize something else is going on. Bright lights flash deep in the forest. Suddenly the man they have been following comes running out of the brush and with one tremendous roar greets the students; “TROLLLLL!”

Played by the famous Norwegian comic, Otto Jesperen, Hans the troll hunter decides that because his benefits are so poor and he is treated terribly by his employer, he will let these students follow him and film his exploits. Finally bringing the Norwegian troll problem to light.

As the troll hunter, Jesperson is amazingly gruff, stoic and understated in the role. I am personally unfamiliar with his work but automatically could imagine no one better to play the role. His nonchalant approach to his job and underlying sarcastic wit make for the perfect mix of someone you could love, but still be uneasy about the whole way through. The team of students joining him are basically made up of unknowns and are lead by Thomas, played by, Glenn Erland Tosterud who also does a fantastic job of keeping the audience interested in the watching the movie, even when there is not a huge troll terrorizing the screen.

The film was shot along the sprawling beauty of the Norwegian landscapes making the atmosphere and locations practically a character in the film. For those of us who have never been to these locations it invokes the same kinds of feelings a lot of people probably had about New Zealand after seeing a “Lord of the Rings” movie. But for each breathtaking shot of a Norwegian forest or mountainside, the audience is treated to more than just a blurring vision of a sky-scraper sized troll jetting past the screen, you get a great long look at these bad boys, front and center. And for good measure, each troll hunt results in a different type of troll, so you get a variety of trolls to look at. Different sizes, some with hair and even one with multiple heads.

The most surprising thing about “The Troll Hunter” is that is was made using a “Curb Your Enthusiasm” style of improv. There was a script written, but the actors were encouraged not to use the dialogue they saw when considering doing the film and were just given a situation to act out. This is a tough job for a lot of actors but I imagine even a tougher feat for actors having to react to large trolls that are not there and represented by a orange ball on a stick chasing you through a forest. As well, the film does a bang up job of being funny, but not because of its subject matter, but due to truly well timed and delivered jokes; some vocal and some sight gags.

Some audiences may be lost on some of the troll lore that really originates in Norway and may be familiar only to those who grew up hearing the fairy tales. Nonetheless, “The Troll Hunter” keeps the viewer engaged at all times and after one troll hunt is done you will be itching for the next one and shout for the projectionist to roll it again once it is all over.

Single Ticket sales for the general public start April 18th. Here is a link to “The Troll Hunter” page at Tribeca complete with showtimes.“The Troll Hunter” will be in theaters on June 10th with the chance to see it early, on demand starting May 6th.